Dear teachers, students, schoolfellows and friends,

As we welcoming this new year, on behalf of the Party Committee and administration team of the School of Information Management, Wuhan University, we extend our sincerest greetings and best wishes for the New Year to all faculty and staff who are dedicated to their professions, students who study diligently and strive for excellence, retired comrades who have contributed significantly to the School's development, and schoolfellows and friends who have long supported our School.

The Yangtze River flows unceasingly day and night; we reap what we sow through relentless efforts. In 2024, our School focused on the goal of "building a world-class discipline of information resources management" and centered on the theme of "Year of Talent Cultivation." We made innovative strides and achieved notable progress in various endeavors, further enhancing our core competitiveness and social impact. Our information resource management was ranked 9th globally by Shanghai Ranking.

Strengthening foundations: CPC building work unites strengths. We delved deeply into President Xi Jinping's important discourses on education talents and S&T talents, and his letter and instructions concerning Wuhan University, laying a solid foundation for high-quality development. Our School has been honored with titles such as May 4th Red Flag Youth League Committee, Outstanding Student Union, and Outstanding Graduate Student Union. One CPC branch was selected for the national higher education institution's "Dual Leaders" teacher Party secretary "Strong Nation Action," and one branch secretary was chosen as a backbone member of Wuhan University's network ideological and political work. One youth league branch received Wuhan University's "May 4th Red Flag Youth League Branch" award, and one class was named an "Outstanding Advanced Class". One teacher received the Good Mentor award from Wuhan University, one teacher received Model Counselor award, and one student received the Top Ten Outstanding Young People (Students) award.

Attracting and cultivating talents: initiating a new chapter in faculty team building. We have continuously explored the path of "promoting development via talents, rising from the plateau to the peak," improving the talents information database, and implementing the Bole Award talent introduction incentive plan. Two associate professors, one specially appointed associate researcher, and two term-appointed lecturers were introduced. We were selected into the first batch of philosophy and social sciences innovation teams by the Ministry of Education. The number of high-level talents reached new heights, with one teacher being rated as distinguished professor, three teachers being selected into national high-level talent plan, one teacher for Hubei Province's Young Elite Talent program, one for the Wuhan Talent Plan, and one was approved for Wuhan University's outstanding young scholar in arts.

Improving quality and efficiency: remaining true to the core mission of cultivating talents. We have fully implemented the fundamental task of moral education and cultivating talents. Awards included the Professor Zha Quanxing 1977 Teaching Award and the Distinguished Contribution Award for Postgraduate Education. One teacher won a special prize at the National Higher Education Information Resource Management Course Ideological and Political Teaching Innovation Competition, one received provincial-level approval for a postgraduate teaching reform project, and four new courses were selected as provincial first-class courses. Students actively participated in scientific and technological innovations, launching 23 undergraduate innovation and entrepreneurship projects. They won a grand prize, four first prizes in the National College Students' E-commerce "Innovation, Creativity, and Entrepreneurship" Challenge, a national silver medal in the "Challenge Cup" China College Students’ Business Plan Competition, two first prizes (including one championship) in the Chinese Postgraduate Artificial Intelligence Innovation Competition, and two first prizes in the inaugural "Cultural China" dual creation competition. Notable achievements were also gained in other competitions like the inaugural Global Digital Intelligence Education Innovation Contest, mathematical modeling contest, and the "Citi Cup" Financial Innovation Application Contest. One student secured funding from the National Natural Science Foundation for a basic research project, one received the Lei Jun Excellence Scholarship, and four earned first prizes in postgraduate academic innovation awards.

Leading innovation, steadily advancing scientific research. We obtained 18 national-level projects, including one National Key R&D Program for Young Scientists, three major projects, two key projects, one general project, and three youth projects under the National Social Science Fund. Additionally, there were three special projects, four general projects, and one youth project under the National Natural Science Fund. The total amount of research funds exceeded CNY 40 million, marking a historic breakthrough. Over 20 academic monographs, textbooks, and blue books were published, and more than 500 academic articles were issued, including 119 JCR Zone I articles. Six awards were received at the Ninth Higher Education Research Outstanding Achievements Awards (Humanities and Social Sciences). Education Evaluation Reform Research Base of Ministry of Education (Wuhan University) was newly established. The construction of the Hubei Secrecy Science and Technology Innovation Center was successfully completed. Seven teachers were listed among Elsevier's Highly Cited Scholars in China, and five were listed among the top 2% of scientists worldwide. Multiple theoretical guiding articles were published in mainstream media such as the China Social Sciences, Guangming Daily, Xinhua News Agency, and Guangming.com.

Mutual learning: international exchanges flourished. We successfully hosted the 18th International Society for Knowledge Organization Conference (ISKO), the International Academic Exchange Meeting on Publishing Industry Development and Talent Cultivation in the Era of Digital Intelligence, the Future Information Leaders International Summer School, and the Sino-French Doctoral Colloquium on Cultural Heritage and Digital Humanities. The launch ceremony of the book Intelligent Computing for Cultural Heritage: Global Achievements and China's Innovations was held at University College London. One teacher was elected to the board of directors of the new session of the Association for Information Science and Technology (ASIS&T), and an alumnus received the ASIS&T Annual Distinguished Contribution Award. Faculty and students actively participated in important international academic conferences such as iConference 2024, ASIS&T, and JCDL. One teacher delivered a special-invited keynote report at the JCDL and we received the Best Long Paper Award from ASIS&T and the Best Short Paper Award from JCDL.

Win-win cooperation: more social services in various fields. We engaged in comprehensive cooperation with key enterprises and units in critical industries and fields, establishing joint innovation centers such as the Wuhan University - China Construction Third Engineering Bureau Group Artificial Intelligence and Digital Economy Joint Innovation Research Center and the Wuhan University - AORONG Industrial Big Data Intelligent Analysis and Application Joint Laboratory. Agreements were signed with entities such as the Ministry of Education Degree Center, Hubei Data Group, Beijing Wanfang, Hubei Provincial Institute of Science and Technology Information, and CETC Kingbase (Beijing). We released reports such as the Global Enterprise Innovation Index Report 2024: Strategic Emerging Industries, China Urban Agglomeration Innovation Development Report (2024), Global Patent Innovation Development Report 2024, Report on China Library Impact Evaluation in the Era of Digital Intelligence, and China Applied Journal Evaluation Research Report. These publications had significant social impacts. Over 20 consulting reports and expert recommendations were adopted by relevant government departments. Leveraging our disciplinary advantages, we provided training services to nearly 3,000 government agencies and enterprises, completed the upgrade of the Hubei Provincial Secrecy Education Practice Base, and trained nearly 30,000 people annually. The Base was selected as one of Hubei Province's first batch of national security education bases.

Looking back on the past year, all faculty and staff of the School of Information Management, Wuhan University and those who care about and support the School's development have written a splendid chapter of progress with an attitude of striving for excellence. With unwavering dedication and a forward-looking spirit, we have continued to write a brilliant new chapter. Here, we express our deepest respect and gratitude to everyone.

2025 marks the closing year of the 14th Five-Year Plan, the planning year for the 15th Five-Year Plan, and the opening year of our new historical starting point, embarking on a new journey. Let us always remember our mission, bear in mind the greater good of the country, boldly innovate, and strive for excellence. Together, let's explore the theories and practices of information resource management in the era of digital intelligence, write a new chapter in building a world-class comprehensive research-oriented information management school with Chinese characteristics, and make greater contributions to achieving high-level scientific and technological self-reliance and strength, and to building a strong nation in education, science and technology, and talent!

Wishing everyone a happy New Year, peace, health, and success in all endeavors!

Xingrong Fu, CPC Secretary of the School of Information Management, Wuhan University

Xiaoguang Wang, Dean of the School of Information Management, Wuhan University